Eos
In two they have always existed: light and dark, life and death, good and evil. When the world was created, two they were. Now, when we walk the scorching deserts, two they are. When we are long forgotten, two they shall be. Only in the end will there be one.
Although the Ardhéan people recognize a large multitude of gods they divide into the forces of good and evil, Eos is revered above them all as the supreme leader of all that is good. Locked in an eternal struggle with the wicked Arimannios and the evil ones who serve him, Eos guides her followers along the path of righteousness in their own struggle with wickedness. Although her role as the supreme god concerning all good things is an enduring and eternal one, Eos herself, like many other gods in Eudokonia, is not expected to serve in this role for eternity. Before Eos, the creator goddess Astenor struggled against Denemor, and some other god will take up the struggle against wickedness after Eos, too, retires from this word, weary from her constant struggles against the wicked.
Tenets of Faith
The dual spirits which appeared in the world of thought in the beginning were the Better and the Bad in thoughts, words and deeds. The wise will choose rightly, but the unwise shall not do so and shall go astray.
According to her followers, human beings are offered a two-fold path in their lives. While they may choose not to follow Eos and her tenants, the wicked Arimannios will take advantage of all who stray too far from the goddess, torturing their souls with mental, emotional and spiritual discomfort for all eternity. Those following Eos will be rewarded according to their practice of the Right Path, consisting of three central tenants: Good Thought, Good Words, and Good Deeds.
Good Thought
The battle for the soul is fought and won partly in the mind, according to the old Ardhéan texts. The good state of mind, known as Wahiman in its native Ardhéan, is necessary for any individual to do anything good, and seen by the majority of the faithful to be the default position for humans. Good thought, as it is known, is the state of the human mind free from corruption by the Seven Demon Princes subservient to Arimannios.
Good Words
Referred to as Azha in the native Ardhéan and often simply translated as "Truth", this tenet of faith to Eos is difficult to translate into any single word outside of the context of the Ardhéan people and their faith. Eos' followers are not only expected to speak truly and avoid trap of perfidy and slander that leads many to the path of Arimannios, but they are also expected to counsel those who have become ensnared by the Wicked One. The purifying fire of Eos is said to purge deceit from that which it touches and ritual prayers are repeated nightly, with the supplicant speaking directly into the flames.
Good Deeds
The struggle between good and evil is not a private one, and must be fought by all in their lives. To live one's life in the community, striving for the good without desire for reward or praise, or Huvarzhta as it is natively known, is core to Ardhéan religious practices, as they believe it to be their duty to strengthen Eos' efforts with their good works. Acting out the passions brought on by the Seven Demon Princes strengthens Arimannios to the detriment of all.
Divine Goals & Aspirations
Locked in an eternal struggle with Arimannios, the supreme power of wickedness and deceit, Eos is aware that victory in this age would do nothing but spell the end of all creation. She is supremely concerned in the cultivation of the good in the world at large, in order to increase the forces available to her, or her successor, in the final stage of the struggle. She is likewise committed to the stamping out of evil wherever possible to diminish the influence and power available to her eternal foe.
The Desert People
Eos is worshipped primarily by the nomadic Ardhéan people. Legend states that when the elves fled during the Sundering, some intermingled with colonists from the Empire Beyond the Cliffs and the Ardhéans were formed by the mixing of these two groups.
The Wicked One
The primary focus of the Good One's efforts is the weakening of the influence of Arimannios. The lion-headed god champions all that is evil and delights in the corruption of humans from Eos' path, gathering forces for the battle that lay ahead.
Heavenly Host
As Arimannios is aided by his Seven Demon Princes, Eos has the assistance of the Seven Heavenly Angels to guide and assist in the spread of good throughout the world. Each of the seven is responsible for a particular virtue dear to Eos and her followers.
Comments